Messages

1

Tools of the Trade / Re: Rehearsal via Skype

« on: Jul 16, 2009, 10:49 am »

nmno - you sound like you might be working on the same show as me - just one of the other companies
I've found that Skype is great in principal, however in Australia, our internet is nowhere near as good as it is stateside; being hideously more expensive is the major issue, we have download limits of maybe 60gb per month for a really large plan, and when you have 4-5 hours of video skype sessions per day, it can chew through your data allowance.  And sometimes the computer/internet just decides to be painful and not work, which can be very annoying when there is work to be done.
However it is better than the other option (which has happened over here on other shows) - live satellite feeds with several cameras to stream a run of the show to the director on the other side of the world.  I wouldn't even want to think how much that would have cost to set up...

2

Tools of the Trade / Re: HELP! with fake body parts/follow spot rental

« on: Apr 22, 2009, 07:26 am »

Did Into the Woods a few years ago at uni - the way that I remember it being done was sculpted out of a latex foam (the same stuff that a latex makeup sponge is made out of).  That way it could fit in the shoe with the foot, and covered in foundation it was skin colour.

3

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Shadowing: General Q&A

« on: Jan 24, 2009, 12:25 pm »

Hi everyone,
Being new to this forum, I'm not aware of how many of you may or may not be from Australia, like myself. I'd never heard of shadowing before, and I don't know whether that's a result of my ignorance, or whether it is harder to come by here? I wonder how succesfull I would be in asking about shadowing a show here?

It sometimes happens in Australia if you're an SM student somewhere - when I was at uni my lecturer organised for us to shadow quite a few different shows, but I think that unless you're a student it can be difficult, something to do with insurance etc.  If you shadow a show as a student, you're covered by your TAFE or uni insurance, but if you're not, and something happens to you then there can be all kinds of problems, because you're not an employee either.

Correct me if I'm wrong other Aussies, but I think that's the deal.  You could still try though, probably try the Company Management offices.
Hope that helps

4

Employment / West End Employment

« on: Dec 22, 2008, 12:54 pm »

Hello everyone, not sure if this is the right place to put this, so feel free to move it if it needs to be moved.
I have a couple of questions that I´m hoping someone doing West End theatre might be able to answer.
I know that the US has very strict laws concerning unions etc and who can work where, does the UK have the same thing?  I´m looking into the possibility of moving to London for a couple of years to work and want to know what it would involve. 
Also, I´m going to be in London around the end of Jan/start of Feb, and would love to pick a brain or two while I´m there, if anyone would be up for it.  Coffees on me of course! 
Thanks for the help